Feeling safe, but not secure in Long Beach: Letters

Perhaps Chief Jim McDonnell has reason to be proud of his department’s statistics. But, there is no cause for him or his department to rest on their collective laurels.

I have resided in Long Beach for well over 30 years. In that time: my home has been broken into on three occasions, autos twice, two of my cars were collided into while parked street side, one of my sons was robbed at gun point, a neighbor ended up in my front yard in an armed confrontation with an intruder once, I observed gang members cross my front yard on a Sunday afternoon and heard shots that wounded a neighbor across the street. There has recently been a number of home take-over robberies in the surrounding neighborhood and there was an armed robbery directly across the street from my front porch a couple of weeks ago.

I grew up and have always lived in Compton, Lynwood, Bellflower and Lakewood.

Did I feel safe 41 years ago? Yes. Do I feel safe now? Yes.Have I ever felt secure? Never.

Police statistics, as encouraging as they may be on a given year, often are a reflection of changes in demographics.

The issue has been and always will be the presence of gangs and their tendency to recruit young men in their teens and tweens. When the neighborhood swells with teenagers, gang activity increases. When elderly or toddlers are prominent, gang activity declines. The gangs don’t die off. They move.

— Clyde Hoy, Long Beach

Restore safety board

From 1982 until recently, the city had the Public Safety Advisory Commission that provided a forum for the community and the Police Department to have public hearings on current concerns, police practices and policies. It resulted in improved community relations, public confidence and accountability in policing procedures.

Unfortunately, Mayor Bob Foster and the City Council disbanded PSAC.

The press and public, as well as LBPD itself, would hugely benefit by restoring PSAC. Our mutual safety concerns need this forum.

— Ron Nelson, Long Beach

Living in places many avoid

I live in the neighborhood (14th Street and Junipero Avenue) where the police shot and killed a perpetrator. There was and still is a big drug issue on these streets and all that issue did was cause the police to be a bit more lax in our streets and the criminals dealing the drugs to hide when the police come by. Since it’s a high rental area maybe we should make these landlords responsible for their tenants’ actions.

I live in areas others probably avoid. I have been investing in more security. My safety and my family’s safety is very important to me and since I see no noticeable improvement in my neighborhood I am always on alert.

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I am supportive of the LBPD. I have made a few calls and they have always arrived timely and addressed my concerns and issues. They try very hard to do their job, but when a neighborhood doesn’t support them and tries to hide the criminals they have limited capability to do their job. I guess that’s a problem when living in a high, low-income rental area

I feel somewhat safe in my house. I do have a secure fence and gate around the premise but that did not keep an intruder from coming over the wall and trying to get in the house while my mother was home alone. I keep my doors and gates locked at all time and the windows are only open during the day while I am home.